Volunteer Opportunity Details

One-half day per week (depending on schedules and availability of space) through summer and/or fall 2014

Location:

3482 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80304

Program Summary:

The Communicable Disease Program investigates and controls infectious disease within the community and houses the agency’s epidemiologist. The epidemiologist conducts studies and analyses for the program and other agency needs, including the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which is a large survey administered biennially in Boulder County high schools (and middle schools in Boulder Valley School District) to measure health risk behaviors among our county’s youth.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Description of Work:
The intern will help with agency analysis activities, including trend analysis of YRBS data from 2001 through 2011. There will be opportunity for the intern to help with other program activities, including syringe access through The Works (syringe exchange) Program and developing and delivering statistics tutorials within the agency.

Duties and Responsibilities:
For YRBS trend analysis:
• Copy and organize 2001-2011 YRBS datasets, which are in either SAS or SPSS.
• Convert SPSS datasets to SAS datasets.
• Review background and support materials to determine an analysis plan for a trend analysis in SUDAAN.
• Use SUDAAN manuals and online/telephone support to analyze data across the administration years using SAS-Callable SUDAAN.
• Document the process used for the analysis.
• Create a user-friendly format for relevant results (e.g. tables or text descriptions).

For statistics tutorials:
• Determine which statistics topics to cover.
• Develop tutorials for the agency.
• Schedule and deliver the tutorials.

Special Requirements:
• Willingness to learn SAS-callable SUDAAN.
• Must submit immunization history form and immunization documentation. Some immunizations and/or TB tests may be required (at the expense of BCPH), and volunteer/intern must comply with these requirements prior to start date.
• Universal precautions and TB training will be provided by the BCPH employee infection control nurse before the intern may begin.

The epidemiologist will provide guidance and orientation to the intern on the following:

YRBS Trend Analysis:
• Using data files, SUDAAN manuals, online support, and background materials to develop an analysis plan, determine the procedure to use, develop the code in SAS-callable SUDAAN, document the procedures, and display the results in a user-friendly format.
Statistics Tutorials:
• Using background on the statistical needs of the agency to develop tutorials for those needs.
Ad hoc Analyses:
• Using background information, reports, presentations, datasets, and any other materials to complete various projects.
Works Program:
• Receiving training and orientation about the program and syringe exchange.

Additional Information:

Benefits Gained: The intern will gain analysis experience and learn a new software package. The intern will also gain teaching experience and potentially direct-service experience.